TOWN fell to their heaviest defeat of the season as they failed to kick on from their weekend victory over Nantwich by falling to defeat against FC United of Manchester on Tuesday night.
A bumper crowd turned up at Ingfield for the clash with the Unibond Premier Division newcomers, but the Town fans that turned up were left with little to cheer.
Town's evening didn't get off to the best of starts as Simon Baldry was forced off through injury to be replaced by Rob O'Brien early on.
And things were made worse just eleven minutes in as a deflected effort from Carlos Roca sent Town stopper Lee Cockerham the wrong way as the ball trickled in for the opener to the delight of the large travelling following from across the Pennines.
Town offered little in attack and it was the visitors who doubled their lead just after the half hour mark as Kyle Wilson broke the offside trap to send Cockerham the wrong way and make it 2-0 in favour of Karl Marginson's men.
It could have been worse for Simon Collins' men, as Roca had a goal chalked off before the break for offside.
Town came out with a more determined approach in the second half, with O'Brien's crossing and set-pieces in particular causing the FC United defence the biggest problems.
Darren Thornton flashed an effort wide of goal while Tom Greaves also tested FC United 'keeper Sam Ashton from the edge of the box.
O'Brien's crossing brought the best chance of the game for Town just before the hour mark as the FC United defence made a mess of a clearance but made amends by somehow clearing off the line with Liam Ormsby ready to head the ball in to the back of the net.
But that was as good as it got for Town, with the visitors wrapping the game up late on as Roca smashed a superb effort in to the top corner to leave Cockerham with no chance.
And the icing was put on the cake as Wilson made no mistake with a penalty kick on 85 minutes.
A STIRRING fightback could not prevent FC United from crashing out of the FA Cup in the Gigg Lane replay.
The Rebels looked down and out at 4-1 down but hit back to almost force extra time.
Manager Karl Marginson received a blow when midfielder Chris Baguley was ruled out through suspension.
In came Dave Neville for his first start but FC were off to a stinker, going behind after just eight minutes when Dave Walker pounced on a loose ball.
FC fought back but Nantwich stood firm, marshalled by veteran ex-Macclesfield defender Darren Tinson.
Two minutes into the second half the Dabbers added a controversial second. The linesman flagged as Walker went through to score but the referee overruled him claiming the ball had reached the striker via defender Dave Chadwick.
Rattled FC went 3-0 down when Charlie O'Loughlin headed home, but on 56 minutes Simon Carden snapped up a goal for the Rebels.
All hope seemed crushed on 68 minutes when Phil Parkinson went down in the box and Walker completed his hat-trick from the spot.
But on 74 minutes sub Danny Self bundled in FC's second and Kyle Wilson set up a thrilling finale with his ninth goal of the season two minutes from time.
KARL Marginson hailed goalkeeping hero Sam Ashton - and his new-look defence - as the Rebels earned an FA Cup replay at the Weaver Stadium.
Ashton saved a 71st minute Danny Griggs penalty to cap a brilliant display in the first round qualifying tie and ensure the UniBond League premier division sides do battle again at Gigg Lane on Wednesday (7.45pm).
And with new full-backs Danny Warrender and Simon Garner shoring up a defence that has been creaking of late, Marginson was satisfied with the clean sheet.
"Sam was excellent," said Marginson. "People have said he was at fault for some goals we have conceded lately, me included, but his save in the first-half was world-class and the penalty save earned us a replay.
"For me he's one of the best, if not the best, keeper in this league and his attitude is first-class.
"And for the new full- backs to come in and play as well as they did in their first game tells you a lot about them.
"Danny was top-class dealing with a winger like Griggs, who is one of the best in this league, and you could tell Simon has been playing with clubs like Stalybridge and Fleetwood."
Ashton pulled off three saves of high quality, the last one from Griggs' spot kick, while at the other end defender Adam Turner headed a glorious chance over the bar and Jerome Wright's teasing cross was turned onto his own crossbar by Dave Tickle.
The Dabbers ended up holding out for the last 15 minutes with ten men after Peter Heler was red-carded for two bookable offences against Garner.
FC are still awaiting international clearance for 19-year-old Gambia Under-20 international Kebba Bah, set to sign for the club after moving to Manchester with his German wife.
Jamie Baguley left the ground on crutches after suffering a knee cartilage tear, but brother Chris a is a ready-made replacement for Wednesday's replay.
Marginson wants his team to be bolder when they get a sight of goal on Wednesday against a big, experienced defence which has former Macclesfield centre-half Darren Tinson as its kingpin.
"One disappointment was that we didn't work the keeper enough," said Marginson.
"Adam Turner is a young lad and you don't expect him to come up with the winning goal, but he was in a great position to win it with the header he put over.
"The replay will be tight again. If anyone had scored on Saturday I think that would have been enough to win the game and it will be no different in the replay."
RORY Patterson returned to haunt FC United as he struck twice to send them crashing to a 2-0 UniBond Premier defeat at Bradford Park Avenue.
The former FC fans' idol gave the Tykes a 16th minute lead when he beat keeper Sam Ashton with a piledriver from outside the box.
Patterson added his and Bradford's second just before the hour..